Islanders lose to Coyotes, 6-3

By MIKE CRANSTON, The Associated Press

Friday, December 13, 2013

GLENDALE, Ariz. Rob Klinkhammer had two goals and an assist, Mikkel Boedker scored two of Phoenix’s four second-period goals, and the Coyotes beat the road-weary New York Islanders 6-3 on Thursday night to avenge their worst loss of the season.

Two months after a 6-1 road defeat to the Islanders, Phoenix also got goals from Keith Yandle and Mike Ribeiro to snap a three-game home losing streak.

John Tavares netted his 13th goal, and Eric Boulton and Kyle Okposo also scored for the Islanders, who ended a five-game trip with their 11th loss in 12 games.

Mike Smith made 21 saves for Phoenix after missing Tuesday’s win in Colorado due to illness. But he got plenty of help as the Coyotes took advantage of the Islanders’ continued defensive woes.

Two nights after making 46 saves in a victory over San Jose, Kevin Poulin allowed all six goals on 36 shots.

The Islanders were plagued by turnovers and shaky blue-line play despite the return of defenseman Brian Strait, who missed 23 games due to injury.

Boedker’s second goal with 1:01 left in the second period made it 5-3 after the Coyotes gave up most of a 4-1 lead.

Klinkhammer’s unassisted goal with 5:47 left sealed the victory.

Playing their third straight game without captain and leading goal scorer Shane Doan, due to an illness, the Coyotes improved to 8-1-1 against the Eastern Conference. The lone regulation loss was to New York on Oct. 8.

The highly anticipated NHL debut of top Islanders prospect Ryan Strome was put on hold. A day after the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft was called up from Bridgeport of the AHL, Strome went through the morning skate before being a healthy scratch.

New York coach Jack Capuano said he wanted to get the 20-year-old center “acclimated in our meetings” before he plays.

The Islanders’ porous defense was no better than it has been on its 1-9-2 stretch.

New York, outshot 17-6 in the first period while losing center Casey Cizikas to a jaw injury, entered last in the league on the penalty kill at 71.3 percent. Yandle’s power-play goal in the first period made it 1-1.

Klinkhammer made it 2-1 when his centering pass from the corner bounced off defenseman Aaron Hess’ stick and into the net at 2:34 of the second.

Less than two minutes later, Boedker slipped a shot past an out-of-position Poulin following a pileup in front.

The Coyotes went up 4-1 at 6:15 when Ribeiro beat Poulin high for his ninth goal.

The Islanders recovered, getting goals from Tavares and Okposo (10th), the second a soft shot that trickled through Smith, to make it 4-3.

But the Coyotes settled down the rest of the way amid some reason for optimism for the Coyotes regarding Doan, who has undergone a series of tests since being sidelined.

Coyotes Coach Dave Tippett said it was possible he will accompany the team on a trip to eastern Canada starting Tuesday.

NOTES: The Islanders activated G Evgeni Nabokov from the injured list and sent Anders Nilsson to Bridgeport (AHL). Nabokov, who missed 11 games with a groin injury, backed up Poulin. . New York D Radek Martinek (back spasms) replaced Strait on the injured list. D Matt Carkner was a healthy scratch for New York. . Coyotes D Derek Morris (personal issue) missed his third straight game, but Tippett expects him to return to practice Friday. . C Frans Nielsen played in his 400th NHL game, all with the Islanders.